Mexcellaneous Vol. 1

It has been a little quiet around these parts of late, but with good reason. Austin has been in Jeffersonville, New York, attending the prestigious Eddie Adams Workshop, while I have been in Havana, Cuba, where I was stranded for three days more than I’d planned by Hurricane Paula. We are back in Mexico now, however, and have set off on the second leg of our journey. And while it may not be the most dangerous leg of that journey, it certainly promises to be the longest and, to some extent, the most intense: in a little over three weeks, we will have crossed Mexico from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, will have seen both the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California, have crossed the latter into Baja California, experienced our first Dia de los Muertos, and plenty more besides. We will get back to posting regular series over the next couple of days, but in the meantime offer this collection of images from our first three-and-a-half weeks in-country.

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Words by Matthew Clayfield / Photos by Austin Andrews

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Two Flags: A VW Beetle, one of the most popular and ubiquitous cars in Mexico, sports a patriotic license plate in a Oaxaca carport.

God's Country: The view from a rocky outcrop near the Mayan ruins of Yagul near Oaxaca.

The View at 10,000 Feet: The pueblo of Cuajimoloyas in the Sierra Juárez Mountains, near Oaxaca. The town sits at an elevation of 3,100 metres.

Progress and Reform: A little girl walks down a precipitously steep road in Cuajimoloyas.

Race You to the Top: Two schoolgirls celebrate the end of the day in Cuajimoloyas.

If I Only Had a Brain: A rudimentary scarecrow guards the corn in Cuajimoloyas.

Come Behind: A farmer and his dog herd a small flock of sheep up a mountain road on the outskirts of Cuajimoloyas.

El Viejo y el Mar: An amateur fisherman in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, watches the water moments before casting his net.

Self-Portrait: A couple record their public display of affection in front of a giant video screen during preparations for Mexico City's Bicentenary of Independence celebrations.

Child of the Talking Cross: On the steps of the Sanctuary of the Talking Cross in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo. Formerly known as Chan Santa Cruz, the capital of the Maya Free State until its annexation by Mexico at the beginning of last century, the town was famous for being the place where, according to legend, a speaking crucifix emerged from a spring and instructed the Mayan leaders to resist those of European descent.

On the Eve of Independence: Bicentenary decorations on Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma.

Helium and Neon: Oaxaca's Zócalo.

Never Let Me Go: Lovers on Oaxaca's Zócalo rotunda.

An Impromptu Dance: Band members laugh as onlookers spontaneously join in on Oaxaca's Zócalo.

So Did We Move Along and Toward the Light: Punters slowly make their way out of Mexico City's Plaza de Toros after the last bullfight of the season.

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Disposable Words is an experiment in independent foreign correspondence, photojournalism, and political commentary presented by Flicker Theory. Now in its eighth year, the site also publishes regular international dispatches that focus on a particular region or issue through on-the-ground reporting and photography.